Caregiver-infant interactions :Stages of attachment by Schaffer and the role of the father Flashcards
What are the Stages of attachment identified by Schaffer
Stage 1: Asocial
Stage 2: Indiscriminate attachment
Stage 3:specific attachment
Stage 4 multiple attachments
What are the features of stage 1 of Schaffer’s attachment (4)
- Between0-6 weeks.
- Babies display innate behaviour–> such as crying and smiling that ensure proximity to any potential caregiver.
*They will also display these behaviours to non human objects. *Anyone can comfort them as they do not prefer any individual caregiver
What are the features of stage 2 of Schaffer’s attachment (4)
- Indiscriminate attachment Between 6-weeks to 7 months
- Infants develop the ability to tell the difference between humans and objects and between familiar and unfamiliar individuals
- smile more at the people they see frequently.
*However they do not yet show stranger anxiety or separation anxiety
What are the features of stage 3 of Schaffer’s attachment (3)
- Specific attachment Between 7-9, months
- Babies form a strong attachment to the primary caregiver.
- It is in this stage that separation anxiety and stranger anxiety develop
Something about Schaffer’s findings on separation anxiety-fathers (3)
*Schaffer found that infants’ primary attachment figure was most frequently their mother alone (65%); 30% both parents and only 3% the father alone.
*However at 18 months 75% of infants had informed an attachment with their father
*Showing separation anxiety suggesting fathers play an important role in their infants lives
The role of the father: Importance of active play (3)
*Fathers are seen to engage babies in active play activities more consistently than mothers.
*Fathers interactions emphasise stimulation
* And so is thought their role is to encourage risk taking behaviours, compared to the more comfort style of mothers
The role of the father: As a primary caregiver (3)
*In modern Western society mothers are more likely to take part in the workplace
*There is evidence to suggest that if men take on the role of primary caregivers their international style changes to be more like mothers
*Increasing their capacity for sensitive responsiveness
Schaffer and Emerson (1964) - How they identified the stages of attachment (8)
*Schaffer and Emerson (1964) identified the four stages of attachment from the results of a longitudinal observation of 60 babies and their families.
*In the first year, data was collected through monthly observations and interviews with an additional follow up visit at 18 months.
*Two types of behaviour were assessed: stranger anxiety, signs of discomfort when left with the researcher and separation anxiety discomfort when the primary caregiver is moved to another room. *It was found that separation anxiety occurs in most babies by 25-32 weeks with stranger distress occurring in most babies approximately one month later .
*In the 18 month follow up, 87% had developed multiple attachments.
*These results suggest that development occurs in the stages outlined by Schaffer, perhaps being a biologically influenced process.
*As multiple attachments develop quickly they are important not just the primary attachments to the mother as argued by researchers such Bowlby;
*Also, the quality of caregiver infant interactions directly impacts the strength of attachment for infants and their mothers
High Mundane realism (4) links to Schaffer and Emerson (1964)
*As infants and their families were observed in their open homes,
*The study has a high level of mundane realism; the experience for infants were normal.
*Strangers visiting the family home and the caregiver temporarily leaving the room are normal occurrences.
*This suggests behaviour recording was valid
Con about the sample in Schaffer and Emerson (1964) and temporal validity (3)
*The sample in Schaffer’s study may not be generalisable as it only includes a group of working class mothers in 1960s Glasgow;
*This culture is not representative of much of the UK or the rest of the world.
*The study may also lack temporal validity, as child rearing practices have likely changes significantly in the past 60 years
Field (1978)-Role of the father (4)
*Field (1978) Observed primary caretaker mothers, primary caretaker fathers and secondary caretaker fathers interacting with their 4 month old infants
*Finding fathers in general focused more on game playing and less on holding.
*Additionally, the primary caretaker fathers showed more sensitive responsive behaviour, similar to mothers
*For example, they used more smiling and child directed speech than secondary caretaker fathers
Verissimo (2011)-Role of the father in socialisation
*Verissimo (2011) Observed preschool children’s relationship with their mothers and fathers
*Then later conducted a follow up assessment of social interactions when the children started nursery.
*A strong attachment to the father was the best predictor of the ability to make friends in school, suggesting an important role for fathers in socialisation
Pro and Con of the role of the father (4)
*There are economic implications to research assessing the importance of the fathers role
*;this could lead to legislation that ensures equal paternity and maternity leave.
*Whilst this may reduce the number of males in the workforce, reduce economic activity, and place pressure on businesses, equalising maternity and paternity leave
*It should help to address the gender pay gap which is in part due to the need to extend absences by mothers caring for their infants
